The national championship - harding vs ferris.

[Predatory Primates]

Based on what I've been reading, all of their posters seem like this. Now, every team or group has a bad apple or loudmouth, so I get that.

If you watch the GV Harding game where do you see them having a weak link?

DBs are a bit slow, but it's hard to get time to throw because front 7 is very good. Pitt and GV didn't have the passing game to.tale advantage of it. No idea.if Ferris does?

[KleShreen]

Eh maybe but if so not much down. Remember the last 16 points were a KO return and against reserves. Yardage for GVSU was pretty comparable to last year. But still, maybe a tick down. I also think the snow had a bit to do with it as it tends to effect defenses more than offenses

Oh yea, I'm well aware GV's offense only got 7 points against the 1's, and it was with their scripted plays. But GV's offense this year is also light years behind what GV's offense last year was. That opening drive for GV was arguably their best offensive drive of the entire season. Last year's Harding doesn't let that happen, especially against a backup QB. Last year's Harding defense was also a monster up front, and I didn't feel like this year's Harding DL was anywhere close to what last year's was.

And the impact on the defense is magnified when going against your flexbone offense. Because the defensive front needs to get leverage and also be quick side-to-side, both of which are hindered in the snow with bad grip.

I also thought it was interesting that Cole Keylon had his biggest output of the season against GV. Most yards, second-highest number of carries. Keylon doesn't normally keep the ball that much. And I think GV, as a result, probably focused too much on the backs (unsuccessfully, obviously), and didn't account enough for Keylon running, and it resulted in him being unchecked multiple times. Last season, Keylon was bottled up by GV. And I think that's because the defensive talent on the GV side allowed for a linebacker to cover Keylon on every play, and the outside backers/safeties were good enough to cover the backs, which is what they did. But the talent to do that wasn't there this year for GV.

[BisonOL]

I can't entirely agree with the snow point. I think it makes teams more one-dimensional on offense.

The offense knows where it’s going, defense has to react. Not saying bad weather helps either side of the ball but def hurts D more than O.

[FSUBulldogs]

Eh maybe but if so not much down. Remember the last 16 points were a KO return and against reserves. Yardage for GVSU was pretty comparable to last year. But still, maybe a tick down. I also think the snow had a bit to do with it as it tends to effect defenses more than offenses

I can't entirely agree with the snow point. I think it makes teams more one-dimensional on offense.

[FSUBulldogs]

Harding isn't as good on defense as they were last year, I'd say.

I don't know why every D2 school doesn't subscribe to Harding's program philosophy, running that offense and stacking their defense with most of their scholarships. It's the perfect recipe for D2 football, where nobody has any dominant defensive tackles. The only reason it gets stopped in FBS is because of defensive tackles who are power lifters and move like defensive ends, and because of 270 pound defensive ends who move like WR's. That doesn't exist in D2, so you can just have your way with almost any defense. But schools won't run it because they're too full of themselves to appear gimmicky.

That's good to know. I was wondering if they were as stout on D as last year.

You're right about other D2 teams needing to adopt this offense. It suits D2 teams very well due to the scholarship and funding issues they face. You don't have to go after the most athletic players. Just find the short, quick, and stout OL guys the country offers. Find a wickedly bright quarterback who runs hard and can take a beating. Then do the same for your running backs, too, but they don't need to have the smarts like your QB. It's a plus but not required. The biggest thing they all need is discipline and a selfless personality. I really want to see Northern get good at this style of offense for their school and for the GLIAC to see a team during the season that runs an option-based offense.

[FSUBulldog27]

Harding isn't as good on defense as they were last year, I'd say.

I don't know why every D2 school doesn't subscribe to Harding's program philosophy, running that offense and stacking their defense with most of their scholarships. It's the perfect recipe for D2 football, where nobody has any dominant defensive tackles. The only reason it gets stopped in FBS is because of defensive tackles who are power lifters and move like defensive ends, and because of 270 pound defensive ends who move like WR's. That doesn't exist in D2, so you can just have your way with almost any defense. But schools won't run it because they're too full of themselves to appear gimmicky.

It will be interesting because we do have 2 pretty good defensive tackles. I assignment football at its finest. It’s interesting what defense fronts team put up to contain the option plays. Some teams like a 3 -4 front with the NT half yard off the ball. More time to pick and crash gap. Then all all LBs and Safety’s have assigned player. So hard for defenses to stay disciplined and not chase the ball but stay with the player. Their goal is to out number you on any position on the field.

we will need long drives as well to keep their D on the field as well. Both times played it’s been close - our 2021, 2022 teams were beasts not sure where would pit this 2024 team. Throwing teams like Shepherd, Mines and UCU we can handle but Harding you have to get some turn overs, not turn over the ball and win coin toss to defer to 2nd half.

I know I have talked smack to amp this game up but we respect all and fear none.

[BisonOL]

Harding isn't as good on defense as they were last year, I'd say.

I don't know why every D2 school doesn't subscribe to Harding's program philosophy, running that offense and stacking their defense with most of their scholarships. It's the perfect recipe for D2 football, where nobody has any dominant defensive tackles. The only reason it gets stopped in FBS is because of defensive tackles who are power lifters and move like defensive ends, and because of 270 pound defensive ends who move like WR's. That doesn't exist in D2, so you can just have your way with almost any defense. But schools won't run it because they're too full of themselves to appear gimmicky.

Eh maybe but if so not much down. Remember the last 16 points were a KO return and against reserves. Yardage for GVSU was pretty comparable to last year. But still, maybe a tick down. I also think the snow had a bit to do with it as it tends to effect defenses more than offenses

[KleShreen]

Based on what I've been reading, all of their posters seem like this. Now, every team or group has a bad apple or loudmouth, so I get that.

If you watch the GV Harding game where do you see them having a weak link?

Harding isn't as good on defense as they were last year, I'd say.

I don't know why every D2 school doesn't subscribe to Harding's program philosophy, running that offense and stacking their defense with most of their scholarships. It's the perfect recipe for D2 football, where nobody has any dominant defensive tackles. The only reason it gets stopped in FBS is because of defensive tackles who are power lifters and move like defensive ends, and because of 270 pound defensive ends who move like WR's. That doesn't exist in D2, so you can just have your way with almost any defense. But schools won't run it because they're too full of themselves to appear gimmicky.

[BisonOL]

I'll leave that comment alone....😂

The trash talking is fun. Honestly this is probably the last week we get to do it. I don't think any of the other SR posters are going to trash talk Ferris/Harding..whoever comes out the winner, that would be a mistake. Then we have to wait until week 0 to start back up.

Honestly with the MIAA being down this year, and GV sucks (as always), the benevolent folks from Searcy are all us Bulldogs have left to scratch our itch.

I hear you and if I mistakenly started talking trash to you or others it was inevitably because I was irritated by someone else talking trash on another thread. I don’t usually just start it up out of the blue for no reason, but I am guilty of allowing one poster’s opionion to sometimes incorrectly stereotype how I may think all of that team’s fans feel

[DawgUp]

Dead on great respect for Ferris and the task at hand. We never start the trash talk, it’s always in retaliation to other teams throwing ours under the bus….only scheme, can’t throw, inferior athletes, etc, etc. if you wanna be publicly respected show a little in return. The Srs there are the kids my son came in with and they are all warriors and I love those kids and I will defend them to the hilt.

I'll leave that comment alone....😂

The trash talking is fun. Honestly this is probably the last week we get to do it. I don't think any of the other SR posters are going to trash talk Ferris/Harding..whoever comes out the winner, that would be a mistake. Then we have to wait until week 0 to start back up.

Honestly with the MIAA being down this year, and GV sucks (as always), the benevolent folks from Searcy are all us Bulldogs have left to scratch our itch.

[BisonOL]

To be fair, I think it’s mostly in retaliation to one of your own knuckleheads. I won’t speak for everyone here, but I think most are well aware of the challenge that awaits. I don’t think it’s one that can’t be handled, but HU will have to go play very very well to win the game. No question.

Dead on great respect for Ferris and the task at hand. We never start the trash talk, it’s always in retaliation to other teams throwing ours under the bus….only scheme, can’t throw, inferior athletes, etc, etc. if you wanna be publicly respected show a little in return. The Srs there are the kids my son came in with and they are all warriors and I love those kids and I will defend them to the hilt.

[Divisiontwo]

Based on what I've been reading, all of their posters seem like this. Now, every team or group has a bad apple or loudmouth, so I get that.

If you watch the GV Harding game where do you see them having a weak link?

I’ve watched all of their games. The OBU game still makes me scratch my head. After that, I thought maybe HU wasn’t quite as good as they were last year on offense. However, after the first two playoff games, I think they may be. I know GV wasn’t quite as good on D this year as last, but I didn’t expect us to have every single play in the playbook on the table because we were physically better than they were. But that’s what happened. Pitt st was the same way. I knew those offenses had some issues but didn’t think they did on D.

It’s hard for me to say where HU is weak at this point. They’ve put a few more footballs on the ground than I’d like to see. But when they’re taking care of the football, they’re very very difficult to beat.

I’ve only watched a little bit of Ferris. Their offense concerns me. The defense? Who knows. All depends on how quickly they can get their guys up to speed to play the option. The two teams prior have struggled. Mightily. I’m expecting a really good game Saturday.

[FSUBulldogs]

To be fair, I think it’s mostly in retaliation to one of your own knuckleheads. I won’t speak for everyone here, but I think most are well aware of the challenge that awaits. I don’t think it’s one that can’t be handled, but HU will have to go play very very well to win the game. No question.

Based on what I've been reading, all of their posters seem like this. Now, every team or group has a bad apple or loudmouth, so I get that.

If you watch the GV Harding game where do you see them having a weak link?

[Divisiontwo]

Ya win one national championship and your untouchable is what I'm feeling from some of the Harding posters. They have a great team, but they are human. Let's go dogs! They might even make a few Lakers say that this week haha

To be fair, I think it’s mostly in retaliation to one of your own knuckleheads. I won’t speak for everyone here, but I think most are well aware of the challenge that awaits. I don’t think it’s one that can’t be handled, but HU will have to go play very very well to win the game. No question.

[FSUBulldogs]

Ya win one national championship and your untouchable is what I'm feeling from some of the Harding posters. They have a great team, but they are human. Let's go dogs! They might even make a few Lakers say that this week haha